Doctrine is the outcome of theology. After you have studied something about God, you arive at a conclusion about God and His ways, His character, and such, and that conclusion is called a doctrine.

Doctrine does divide people, unfortunately it should not divide faithful Christians from each other. But it should divide the faithful from false teachers/heretics.

We need to major in the majors; when one majors in the minors, division occurs. Some doctrinal issues are less important than others. One of the most crucial functions of Christian theology, and one of the most neglected, is to sort out the really important — the essential — from the less important and even the irrelevant. (Rom 14) [note: this applies to those in the faith; not to the population at large.]

Understanding Theology
– The person who studies God carefully and methodically or systematically is called a theologian.
– The theologian studies God by the primary means of the written record.

Bad Theology vs Good Theology.
– Bad theology determines IF they accept what the word says; if it doesn’t, they shoe horn their intentions into the word.
– Good theology determines THAT they accept what the word says; if they are unsure of the intention of the word, they search the word for validation and corroboration of the intent located in other areas of the word.

The Critisisms: A method whereby theologians carefully and critically look at the Bible to discern good from bad theology. Used by both good and bad theologians. As an example; 2 Tim 3:15-17 Titus 1:9 [A good theologian can encourage and convict with good theology.] 2:1 [sound doctrine] 2:7-8 [sound speech which cannot be condemned (refuted)]

Exegesis: from the Greek meaining ‘lead out of.’ The critical defense or explanation of the scriptures by getting the meaning of scripture from ‘out of’ the text of scripture itself.

Eisegesis: from the Greek meaining a ‘bringing in.’ A system of explanation often used to make scripture subject to more than one interpretation by brining into, or reading extraneous ideas into it.

Apologetics [from Greek ἀπολογία, “speaking in defense”) to make a plea for; to make a defense of. In theological terms, to give a reason to believe. [1 Peter 3:15 “… if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.”] Apologetics is the science of the defense of the doctrines of God.

Apostasy Greek: ἀποστασία apostasia, “a defection or revolt” departing or separting from what is true. [2 Thes 2:3 “…alleging that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy [rebellion, falling away, people will rebel against God, departure, revolt] comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,. 4He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship.”]

Atheism from the ancient Greek ἄθεος (atheos), meaning “without god(s)”. The absence of belief in the existence of deities. Contrast with Theism being the existence of the Supreme Being or deities.

When it comes to studying God one should not shy away from theology. One who studies the word to gain a deeper understanding of who God is is a Theologian.

Clergy and Laity are not contained in the New Testament; they do not exist in the Bible. These are man-made words from the early church to make a separation between everyone else and the pastorial people.

Doctorines are what theologians come up with as a result of studying God’s word. Non-negotiables.

The are two camps creating non-negotiables/doctrines; the camp of good theology and the camp of bad theology. Stated another way; the Biblical Church and the Apostate Church. When you make up what the Bible says/means, you become a apostate church.